Tags
birthday, birthday pie, cherry pie, dessert, pie, postaweek2011, wedding
For our wedding we didn’t have cake, cupcakes or cheesecake (oh how I wished for it), instead we had pie. Before I even knew we were on the popular pie bar trend wagon Jon and I had decided we’d have six different types of pie at the wedding. I love sweets so it didn’t matter to me what we had for our reception and “cutting” of whatever dessert we had. Jon though, goodness, that man loves pie. Loves it! So we went with that. On our wedding day we took a piece of pie and fed each other a bite (from a fork) for our cutting ceremony. I also took a dollop of the cherry pie goo and swiped it on Jon’s nose. He in turn got a tiny bit on my nose, before I ran away for fear of cherry goop on my dress! We had a good time, yes we did.
First Wedding Anniversary
Our anniversary is this coming Monday. I still can’t believe we’ve been married for a year already. And I still don’t know what we’ll do for the tradition since not a crumb exists from the pies at the reception–my immediate family hauled off the leftovers and ate them or took them to work! I know many people keep the top-tier and freeze it. Some people never keep anything and have the bakery make them a replica to ensure total freshness. Or if you’re like me and what I would have done if I had cake, ate the topper only a few short days later while my husband was sleeping aka my evil cake twin over at Wife, From Scratch!—-bwahahahaha!
Then I thought about making a cherry pie all on my own. Jon asks now and then for a pie and I just never get around to making one. I made a pie in my baking class this past spring, surely I could do it again. Surely. One pie for our anniversary and one for my husband’s birthday, which is today!
Husband’s Birthday
Yeah, well, not so much. Last night I stayed up until 9:30pm cutting two pounds of sweet Bing cherries in half and with a small metal 1/8 measuring spoon to perfectly pop the pit out of the cherry flesh. The pads of my finger tips are still a dark hue and my cuticles look like I soaked them in a dark Kool-aide. My hopes of a delicious cherry pie for my husband’s birthday today would become a reality. That is until I tried to make the crust and I ended up with a crumbled ball of flour, salt, sugar, water and shortening with no hope it could roll out into a nice thin sheet–ever. Even after my baking class I don’t know where I went wrong.
I’m going to try again though, there.will.be.pie.
When I crawled into bed, defeated, I told my husband there wasn’t a pie for his birthday. At least it wasn’t ready yet. He was on his side and about to fall asleep and reached back and patted me on the butt, “That’s alright honey, I know pies are hard to make.” I still felt bad. After all, my gift to him is the pie. All he wanted was pie and dinner, shepherd’s pie, for his birthday. No presents. I just can’t do that, I wanted to give him something. So instead I’m gifting him a booklet (more details to come shortly), with twelve little coupons, and each month for the next year the man is getting a different pie! Either I’ve lost my mind and will be buying 12 pies over the next year because my attempts to make crust suck or I will finally master a flaky crust and be a pro when I’m done. I’m hoping the latter is my fate.
So what kind of pies will there be?
- Sweet Cherry
- Autumn Harvest
- Lemon Meringue
- Strawberry Lemonade Icebox
- Peach
- Pumpkin
- Lemon Blueberry
- Raspberry/Blackberry
- Strawberry Rhubarb
- Apple
- Key Lime
- German Chocolate
So because I tanked on the pie this month I contacted a sweet little lady at a local bakery. It’s 12:36pm and she is going to make a fresh cherry pie with lattice crust for me and I’ll pick it up in a couple of hours. Now all I have to do is make a shepherd’s pie tonight. Wish me luck! I’ve never had it, never made it and I hope it comes out delicious!
Did you have something other than pie for your wedding dessert? Have you ever tried to make a homemade pie, if so, how did it turn out?
(Yup, I’ll be posting about each pie, hope you like the monthly specials!)
Ha! Thanks for the shout-out – I’ll be your evil cake twin any day. :) Good luck with the shepherd’s pie tonight!
When I read your post way back I bookmarked it because I knew I needed it for my post—I would so do that! And congrats again mommy-to-be!! :)
It has taken me most of my life to get over my fear of pie crust. Only this spring did I start to practice. I have been using the methods that make it in the food processor and I have been able to piece something together resembling crust. So far they don’t look pretty, but they have tasted pretty good. I recommend just practicing crust first, without the pressure of having to make the whole pie. If it turns out, just put it on a cookie sheet and sprinkle with a little cinnamon sugar for a little treat. You can also buy a grocery store back up, the refrigerator ones aren’t that bad, especially if you roll them out a little thinner.
Remind me next week and I’ll get you my grandma’s pie crust recipe. Best part? It makes more than one so you can pop it in the freezer and then your crust is pre-made for the next month! :)
aw what a great gift idea. good luck with all the pie making! i’ve never made one before but i can only imagine how hard it is. and happy almost anniversary! :)
The pie booklet is such a cute idea! You’ll def be a pie expert for his next bday!!
Sorry to hear about your race the other day… Don’t beat yourself up over it – there will be other race opportunities, I’m sure!
Great idea on the twelve-months of pie! I make a mean pumpkin pie (and I used to make an “ice box lemon pie,” but I’ve never branched out beyond that. This post is tempting me to do so though. Good luck!
I’ve only made apple pie with a killer crust. Haven’t made it sense because I can’t find the recipe. So flakey & buttery.
I’ve made pumpkin pie, but cheaped out & got a store bought crust. (blush) so not the same.
Love the idea of the pie of the month!
Oh, on my must make from scratch list – Lemon Meringue Pie!